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every other man； as to the repayment of his money。 Consequently； they
look after one another； and pick out their partners with care； selecting men
in whom they have confidence。〃
〃They repay the money； I suppose； when the pig is fattened； killed； and
sold？〃
〃Yes。 Then they repay the money。 And they do repay it。 I had one
man； last year； who was a little tardy （he was in the habit of going to the
public…house）； but even he did pay。 It is an immense Advantage to one of
these poor fellows to have a pig。 The pig consumes the refuse from the
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man's cottage and allotment…garden； and the pig's refuse enriches the
man's garden besides。 The pig is the poor man's friend。 Come into the
club…house again。〃
The poor man's friend。 Yes。 I have often wondered who really was
the poor man's friend among a great number of competitors； and I now
clearly perceive him to be the pig。 HE never makes any flourishes about
the poor man。 HE never gammons the poor manexcept to his manifest
advantage in the article of bacon。 HE never comes down to this house； or
goes down to his constituents。 He openly declares to the poor man； 〃I
want my sty because I am a Pig。 I desire to have as much to eat as you
can by any means stuff me with； because I am a Pig。〃 HE never gives the
poor man a sovereign for bringing up a family。 HE never grunts the poor
man's name in vain。 And when he dies in the odour of Porkity； he cuts up；
a highly useful creature and a blessing to the poor man； from the ring in
his snout to the curl in his tail。 Which of the poor man's other friends can
say as much？ Where is the M。P。 who means Mere Pork？
The dreary Sage had glided into these reflections； when he found
himself sitting by the club…house fire； surrounded by green smock… frocks
and shapeless hats： with Friar Bacon lively； busy； and expert； at a little
table near him。
〃Now； then； come。 The first five！〃 said Friar Bacon。 〃Where are
you？〃
〃Order！〃 cried a merry…faced little man； who had brought his young
daughter with him to see life； and who always modestly hid his face in his
beer…mug after he had thus assisted the business。
〃John Nightingale； William Thrush； Joseph Blackbird； Cecil Robin；
and Thomas Linnet！〃 cried Friar Bacon。
〃Here； sir！〃 and 〃Here； sir！〃 And Linnet； Robin； Blackbird； Thrush；
and Nightingale； stood confessed。
We； the undersigned； declare； in effect； by this written paper； that each
of us is responsible for the repayment of this pig…money by each of the
other。 〃Sure you understand； Nightingale？〃
〃Ees； sur。〃
〃Can you write your name； Nightingale？〃
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〃Na； sur。〃
Nightingale's eye upon his name； as Friar Bacon wrote it； was a sight
to consider in after years。 Rather incredulous was Nightingale； with a
hand at the corner of his mouth； and his head on one side； as to those
drawings really meaning him。 Doubtful was Nightingale whether any
virtue had gone out of him in that committal to paper。 Meditative was
Nightingale as to what would come of young Nightingale's growing up to
the acquisition of that art。 Suspended was the interest of Nightingale；
when his name was doneas if he thought the letters were only sown； to
come up presently in some other form。 Prodigious； and wrong…handed
was the cross made by Nightingale on much encouragementthe strokes
directed from him instead of towards him； and most patient and sweet…
humoured was the smile of Nightingale as he stepped back into a general
laugh。
〃Order！〃 cried the little man。 Immediately disappearing into his mug。
〃Ralph Mangel； Roger Wurzel； Edward Vetches； Matthew Carrot； and
Charles Taters！〃 said Friar Bacon。
〃All here； sir。〃
〃You understand it； Mangel？〃
〃Iss； sir； I unnerstaans it。〃
〃Can you write your name； Mangel？〃
〃Iss； sir。〃
Breathless interest。 A dense background of smock…frocks
accumulated behind Mangel； and many eyes in it looked doubtfully at
Friar Bacon； as who should say； 〃Can he really though？〃 Mangel put
down his hat； retired a little to get a good look at the paper； wetted his
right hand thoroughly by drawing it slowly across his mouth； approached
the paper with great determination； flattened it； sat down at it； and got well
to his work。 Circuitous and sea…serpent…like； were the movements of the
tongue of Mangel while he formed the letters； elevated were the eyebrows
of Mangel and sidelong the eyes； as； with his left whisker reposing on his
left arm； they followed his performance； many were the misgivings of
Mangel； and slow was his retrospective meditation touching the junction
of the letter p with h； something too active was the big forefinger of
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Mangel in its propensity to rub out without proved cause。 At last； long
and deep was the breath drawn by Mangel when he laid down the pen；
long and deep the wondering breath drawn by the backgroundas if they
had watched his walking across the rapids of Niagara； on stilts； and now
cried； 〃He has done it！〃
But； Mangel was an honest man； if ever honest man lived。 〃T'owt to
be a hell； sir；〃 said he； contemplating his work； 〃and I ha' made a t on 't。〃
The over…fraught bosoms of the background found relief in a roar of
laughter。
〃OR…DER！〃 cried the little man。 〃CHEER！〃 And after that second
word； came forth from his mug no more。
Several other clubs signed； and received their money。 Very few could
write their names； all who could not； pleaded that they could not； more or
less sorrowfully； and always with a shake of the head； and in a lower voice
than their natural speaking voice。 Crosses could be made standing；
signatures must be sat down to。 There was no exception to this rule。
Meantime； the various club…members smoked； drank their beer； and talked
together quite unrestrained。 They all wore their hats； except when they
went up to Friar Bacon's table。 The merry…faced little man offered his
beer； with a natural good…fellowship； both to the Dreary one and
Philosewers。 Both partook of it with thanks。
〃Seven o'clock！〃 said Friar Bacon。 〃And now we better get across to
the concert； men； for the music will be beginning。〃
The concert was in Friar Bacon's laboratory； a large building near at
hand； in an open field。 The bettermost people of the village and
neighbourhood were in a gallery on one side； and； in a gallery opposite the
orchestra。 The whole space below was filled with the labouring people
and their families； to the number of five or six hundred。 We had been
obliged to turn away two hundred to…night； Friar Bacon said； for want of
roomand that； not counting the boys； of whom we had taken in only a
few picked ones； by reason of the boys； as a class； being given to too
fervent a custom of applauding with their boot…heels。
The performers were the ladies of Friar Bacon's family； and two
gentlemen； one of them； who presided； a Doctor of Music。 A piano was
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the only instrument。 Among the vocal pieces； we had a negro melody
（rapturously encored）； the Indian Drum； and the Village Blacksmith；
neither did we want for fashionable Italian； having Ah！ non giunge； and
Mi manca la voce。 Our success was splendid； our good…humoured；
unaffected；